Bank swallows will not nest the pre-drilled holes. They have to excavate
their own burrows, in sand.

In some parts of their range, rough-winged swallows will nest in drain
pipes and the like, so you might attract them (in small numbers of course).

But it sounds like cliff swallows would like this surface (without the
holes).

-- Mike Beecher

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 17:23:18 -0800
From: Don Baccus <dhogaza at pacifier.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: mitigation question from the southeast US

I'm in search of information concerning the creation of bank swallow habitat.
Our engineering firm is in the process of preparing an EIS for a small water
supply reservoir in the southeast.

The dam and spillway area would be excavated in sandstone. Many of these
areas will almost be vertical and will be over or adjacent to water. As
part of the mitigation for environmental impacts we are searching for
various ways to create wildlife habitat.. Would bank swallows nest in holes
drilled into stone? If so, do you have any idea as to spacing, diameter,
and depth?

Establishment of a large colony of bank swallows or perhaps another
species of swallow might be a nice addition to the project. Bank swallows
are relatively rare in the projct area.

I would appreciate any information you could share. My e-mail address is
JimTu814 at aol.com

Thanks,

Jim